Pottstown mom charged after allegedly throwing 3-week-old to the ground

POTTSTOWN — A 21-year-old Pottstown mother allegedly threw her 3-week-old daughter on the ground and fractured her skull when she became frustrated early this year, according to court records.

Sharnice Nadira White was formally charged April 24 with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault, endangering the welfare of her own children and recklessly endangering another person.

Pottstown police began an investigation into White on Jan. 5 when they received a report from the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth about a 3-week-old girl who suffered a “parietal bone fracture and acute subdural hematoma,” an affidavit of probable cause said.

A doctor at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia suspected “child abuse or neglect due to no explanation for the injuries,” according to police.

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White provided no explanation for the injuries for more than three months, police said, only writing out a statement Jan. 8 in which she denied culpability for the injuries.

“The only thing Sharnice ever said was that she found (the victim’s) head was mis-shape(n) on Sunday, Jan. 5, at around 12 p.m.,” according to the affidavit.

A caseworker from the county Office of Children and Youth spoke with a doctor at CHOP who said the injuries the child sustained were likely from a fall between 2½ and 3 feet.

“Falling from a mattress onto the floor would not have caused these injuries,” the doctor reportedly said.

On April 22, White allegedly provided a three-page statement admitting to injuring her daughter.

She reportedly wrote that she was “frustrated with her other child,” who was 19 months old, “because she was acting up.”

After allegedly yelling and then spanking the 19-month-old, it began to cry and the 3-week-old began to “whine.”

“(White) was frustrated because both children were crying,” the affidavit said. “(White) had (the 3-week-old) in her arms and threw her onto the floor of the bedroom. (The victim) hit the floor and began to cry.”

White told police she felted “horrible and in a state of shock” because of what she allegedly did.

“I was just stressed out and lost my patience for a minute,” she told police.

The baby fell about 3 feet, White said.

When told what White described, the doctor at CHOP said that explanation is “plausible” for how the child’s injuries occurred.

At her arraignment, White’s bail was set at $100,000 unsecured. Online court records did not specify whether she posted bail or went to jail.

It’s also unknown what happened to her two daughters leading up to and following the arraignment.

About the Author

Frank Otto is a general assignment reporter covering Phoenixville, Limerick and Spring-Ford schools in addition to features and spot news. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Otto moonlights with the sports department on occasion. Reach the author at fotto@pottsmerc.com
or follow Frank on Twitter: @fottojourno.